Ornithogalum balansae

Circa 1884, this miniature heirloom yields slender stems adorned with up to five star-shaped white flowers with faint green stripes, tiny glowing green centers and yellow anthers, and somewhat sparse linear foliage. As it matures over time, when it’s extremely happy where it’s planted, it can naturalize by both bulb offsets (called bulbils: baby bulbs on the sides of the mother bulb you’ve planted) and, occasionally, self-sowing seed. Since it’s not tremendously hardy, you may want to apply no more than a 2" layer of mulch after the surface of the ground freezes to protect it from winter temperature spiking in the event of inconsistent snow coverage. You’ll need about nine bulbs per square foot. (Square footage is determined multiplying the planting site’s length times its width.) Bulb size: 5 cm/up. Full to partial sunlight. Bloom time in horticultural zone 5: March/April. Plant 4" to 6" deep and 4" to 6" apart. HZ: 5-8. Height: 5".

Ornithogalum is The Art & Soul of Spring™.

Ornithogalum Horticultural Tips                 Stinze Plantings
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Catalog
#3765
$0.22

Available in units of 50 with volume discount pricing.

50 bulbs $12.00
100 bulbs $19.25
200 bulbs $34.75
500 bulbs $80.25
Out of stock
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  • Ornithogalum
    A Greek name loosely translated as bird's milk, the genus Ornithogalum has over 150 identified species although only a handful are grown commercially. Native to the temperate climates of Europe, northern Africa and Asia Minor as far back as the 16th century, they have star-shaped white flowers with green stripes on the reverse (with the exception of O. nutans Silver Bells). All known to be good cutting flowers, deer- and rodent-resistant Ornithogalum are excellent for naturalized garden display. Each variety prefers adequate moisture, well-draining soil and the protection of mulch in colder micro-climates. When it’s extremely happy where planted as it matures over time, it can naturalize by both bulb offsets (baby bulbs on the sides of the mother bulb you’ve planted) and, in some cases, self-sowing seed.

    Ornithogalum is The Art & Soul of Spring™.

    Ornithogalum Horticultural Tips        Stinze Plantings
Ornithogalum
A Greek name loosely translated as bird's milk, the genus Ornithogalum has over 150 identified species although only a handful are grown commercially. Native to the temperate climates of Europe, northern Africa and Asia Minor as far back as the 16th century, they have star-shaped white flowers with green stripes on the reverse (with the exception of O. nutans Silver Bells). All known to be good cutting flowers, deer- and rodent-resistant Ornithogalum are excellent for naturalized garden display. Each variety prefers adequate moisture, well-draining soil and the protection of mulch in colder micro-climates. When it’s extremely happy where planted as it matures over time, it can naturalize by both bulb offsets (baby bulbs on the sides of the mother bulb you’ve planted) and, in some cases, self-sowing seed.

Ornithogalum is The Art & Soul of Spring™.

Ornithogalum Horticultural Tips        Stinze Plantings
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